#ewew cooks Pan-Fried (Frozen) Fish Fillet

For the super busy women out there who juggles work and kids and don't really have time to cook, I have a failproof recipe to share with you that's fast to cook and good to eat...it's my Pan-Fried (Frozen) Fish Fillet with a side of potatoes, mushrooms and vegetables.

 

Who would have thought that using a piece of frozen fish fillet (stored conveniently in your freezer, ready for your use at anytime) would turn out so well...and it certainly did.  It's a simple, healthy dish that you and your family are gonna love!

 

You see, I was recently introduced to this local frozen fish fillet supplier, Goh Siong Tee Marine Product Sdn Bhd (GST Group from Penang), through samplings in Jusco supermarket.  Their brand of Fresh Island Frozen Fish Fillet does not smell 'fishy' at all when defrosted.  

 

It seems their frozen fish fillets are mainly exported to Europe, Australia and USA.  [#Note: So, my rationale is...if it's packed here and exported overseas, it would probably be fresher than those frozen fish packed overseas and exported here.] 

 

They have a few different types of frozen fish namely Red Snapper (Ikan Merah) Fillet @ RM16.90, Golden Pomfret (Bawal Emas) Fillet @ RM12.90, Barramundi (Siakap) Fillet @ RM12.90, Tilapia ("Fei Chau") Fillet @ RM6.90 and Grouper (Kerapu) Fillet @ 17.90.  I actually bought a few types of fish to try (and some has remained in my freezer for more than a month) but still tasted good when I finally cooked them.

 

All you have to do is just pan-fry the fish fillets and prepare a side of fried potatoes, mushrooms and vegetables to make a complete dish.  Although, in the samplings, the chefs did cook them with a few different sauces, but that's just too complicated and too much 'work'.

 

Frozen Golden Pomfret Fillet @ RM12.90

 

This is the frozen Golden Pomfret Fillet with sautéed brown button mushrooms and French beans.  This fish comes with skin on, so ensure you fry the skin till crispy (use a knob of butter to help it along).  The fish is delicate and tastes just like any fresh promfret (and with no bones to boot).

 

It turned out pretty well in terms of freshness and taste.  It's not cheap for just a thin piece of fillet (especially the red snapper and grouper fillets) but, then again, good quality (frozen) things don't come cheap.

 

Frozen Tilapia Fillet @ RM6.90

This is the pan-fried frozen Tilapia Fillet with white button mushrooms and asparagus.  Although "fei chau yue" is known for its muddy taste, this didn't taste muddy at all and was 'great value for money'.

Does this look good or what?  One slice of fillet is just nice as one serving for a small-eater, just load the plate with more vegetables for a 'fuller' meal.  [#Tip: A cheaper substitute for asparagus would be to use French beans.]

Since the tilapia fillet is the cheapest among them at only RM6.90, you can double it up (for your man) for a bigger serving size :)  This is 2 slices of tilapia fillet with brown button mushrooms.  [#Tip: I prefer fresh brown button mushrooms to white ones, even though they are slightly more expensive, as they taste better and keep longer in the fridge.]

Frozen Barramundi Fillet @ RM12.90

This is the frozen Barramundi Fillet with pan-fried brown button mushrooms, French beans and crispy skin.  Just use olive oil and omit the butter if you want a healthier option.
 

And there you have it, another piece of delicious barramundi fillet...simply cooked.  Choosing my favourite out of the 3 is difficult coz all 3 are equally good.  If I had to choose....I'll have to go with the tilapia (based on value), the barramundi (based on crispy skin) and pomfret (based on the taste of the fish).....does that make sense?

 

Just remember 3 things...1) season everything with with a good pinch of salt and black pepper, 2) use a non-stick pan and 3) serve with a squeeze of lemon...and you're on your way to a satisfying, home-cooked meal!
 

For those of you who are 'lazy' to cook and wash, it can't get any simpler than this.  It's an 'all-in-one-pan' kind of dish...it's fast....it's easy.....it's failproof (anyone can do it)!  Try it......you'll like it!!

 

But, just in case you're not into frozen fish fillets, you can always get yourselves a pc of fresh fish fillet (this is Snapper Fillet, by the way, @ RM75/kg).

 

And the finished product looks like this.....enjoy!

 

Each dish serves 1 (light eater).

 

Revisit: The Loaf @ Pavilion

After being impressed by their fine pastries, I went to The Loaf @ Pavilion (again) for a late breakfast after a bout of shopping (read my earlier review here).

But, more specifically, I was there to try their Creamy Anpan (which I didn't get to do on my last visit) and I'm sure glad that I did.....it was the bomb!

But, first up, the Mushroom Omelette @ RM12 was a button mushroom filled omelette with two chicken sausages, two slices of toast and a salad with some julienned carrots and sliced olives.  The omelette was overdone and lost its fluffiness and the toast didn't come with any butter (which was rather strange).  I'm not sure if the wait staff mistakenly left it out but when I asked for some, they were kind enough to bring me some (at no extra charge).  It may not score 'big' on taste but at a (very reasonable) price of RM12, I would deem it acceptable.

Next was the Scrambled Eggs with Potato Rosti @ RM12.  This came with a few slices of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on top of a potato rosti with sour cream.  As much as I love potato rosti, this version was too lightly fried (although still crisp on the outside) but without the browning that I desired and the chef was a bit heavy-handed with the salt this time.  The scrambled eggs were again overcooked but the salmon had a good smoky flavour which I enjoyed.

After two western choices, I decided to go with something local with a choice of Tun's Curry Chicken @ RM14.80 which is The Loaf's signature chicken curry with toast.  The chicken pieces were cooked till very tender but I found the curry powder taste too prominent in the curry with no "santan" (coconut milk) flavour.

The two slices of toast (that accompanied the chicken curry) was 'Godzilla-sized' (like at least an inch thick) making this substantial dish more of a lunch than breakfast item.  This dish is listed as Tun's favourite but it certainly was not mine.

A drink (that was in its Back to Nature Boost Juices menu) which caught my attention was The Wild Thing @ RM12 because of its name.  Ok, people...there's nothing wild here...it's just made up of fresh apple, watermelon and pineapple though the dominant flavour was watermelon.  Nothing like a supposedly healthy juice to help cleanse our body which is cool and refreshing at the same time.

This is the Mango Fruit Juice @ RM10 from the Fruit Juices Section (not the freshly squeezed juices) that tastes like those bottled ones from supermarkets although you can also have a choice of freshly squeezed juices starting from RM12.

Another drink for the Fruit Juices Section was the Lime Juice also @ RM10 but, sadly, I did not get the sour, crisp refreshing flavour.

As I exited The Loaf, I went looking for the Creamy Anpan as I had wanted to try this since my last visit.  [#Note: Anpan is a Japanese sweet roll commonly filled with red bean paste (although it can also be prepared with other fillings).]  The Loaf offers the Anpan in 3 flavours...original Fresh Cream, Espresso Coffee and Green Tea.  [#Note: Not sure why it's spelt as 'Ampan' by The Loaf as the actual spelling is 'Anpan'.]

This is the Creamy Anpan with Espresso Coffee @ RM3.50 which I "tapau" (takeaway) to try at home.  The utterly soft bun, topped with a roasted pecan, came with a 'light as air' fresh cream and a subtly sweetened house made red bean paste infused with an espresso coffee flavour.  It's bonkers just how good it is!

The flavours worked so well together...the slight bitterness of the coffee coupled with the sweetness of the red bean paste and fresh cream.  I was blown away with the unique taste (I initially thought that coffee and red bean paste would be a weird combo).  If you like coffee, you're sure gonna enjoy eating this espresso creamy ampan...I certainly did!  If you're not a coffee lover, then go for the original fresh cream version which is just as good.  [#Tip: Don't be alarmed with the abundant fresh cream in the bun, it is so light and airy, it feels like you're eating 'foam'...it's that good!]

My Personal Opinion

You can get quite a few of their All Day Breakfast menu items for under RM15 which is quite a bargain for a place like Pavilion although, taste wise, I was not impressed.

After sampling some of their breakfast menu, it's crystal clear that The Loaf (like its namesake) is all about its bread and pastries.  Their pastry is the crowning glory here!  If I happen to be in a 'Party of One', I tend to come here (for their pastries) after I'm done with what I have to do in Pavilion.

You can't come to The Loaf and not be 'wowed' by their super soft buns.  I will keep coming back for more of these superior pastries like the Espresso Anpan, Tuna Mayo Bun/Oyaki and Mini Vanilla Silk Chiffon Cupcake (which are among my absolute favourites).

The Loaf Bakery & Bistro
Lot 3.13.00 & 14.12.02
Levels 3 & 4 Pavilion KL

168 Jalan Bukit Bintwng

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2145 3036

Cookie....and Sashimi!

If you're thinking of this cookie....

.....I'm sorry to disappoint you, coz it's not, but these cookies (from Oreos to chocolate chip cookies to 'm & m' encrusted cookies to almond cookies to...) do look really yummy!

Ok, let's focus...this is my Cookie.....my nearly two-year old cat (who was orphaned and rescued from my roof top).  Obvious, isn't it...to name my cat after some kind of food...lol!

Isn't he a handsome little devil?  Cute as a Cookie, no?

As the last 100 posts have been about the food I like to eat, I thought my cat deserves at least one post of the things he likes to eat :P

And it's salmon sashimi....

....but not these ones for 'human' consumption...although he doesn't mind them too!

It's this salmon sashimi...my Cookie's favourite treat!  Who doesn't like salmon sashimi, right?

I love it (the version for human consumption, of course) and so does my cat...both versions!

It's described as tender delectable morsels of freeze-dried 100% wild Alaskan salmon.  I crumble and sprinkle them on top of his dry or wet food (it looks a bit like dried meat floss when crumbled).  My cat goes gaga for them!

I'm not so sure about this claim though.....of it turning your little devils into angels!  Haha!!  My cat is still a little 'Tasmanian' devil at times though other times he can also be an angel :D

Each packet of Angel's Salmon Sashimi @ RM11 has about 50 all natural treats.  Suggested serving is anything between 5 - 20 treats a day but at 22 cents a snack, it's not cheap T_T so I try to limit him to 5 treats a day since he also gets another type of treat.

His other treat is the Feline Greenies Dental Treats @ RM15.90 a packet and they come in 6 delicious flavours although I've seen only 4 flavours on the shelves of the supermarket I patronise.

With names like Tempting Tuna, Oven Roasted Chicken, Ocean Fish and Savoury Salmon....how not to tempt my cat, huh?

It's called Feline Greenies (coz the treats are green in colour) and its crunchy texture helps reduce tartar build-up.  They're tasty (according to my cat) plus they're good for his teeth...what better combo than that, right?

I've tried giving him some other cheaper alternatives but he has rejected those snacks and only want these ones :|

There you have it...food for thought.....food for my cat...and.....that's the way the cookie crumbles!!

My (Cat's) Personal Opinion

"Meow"......and that's "yum" in human language!!!

P/S:  

1.  And no, I did not receive any 'free samples' from the manufacturer.

2.  Now back to our regular 'programming' (in this case, regular food) tomorrow! ;)

My 1st milestone.....it's my 100th post!

Wow...I can't believe I've reached my 100th post.....in just 9 months!  Bring out the roses, pop open the champagne....it's time to celebrate :-D

A hundred posts may seem trivial to the established food bloggers out there but for an amateur blogger (like me), it's a milestone of sorts.

Initially, I was hesitant to start a food blog as I felt my blog would just be a tiny little fish fry in a sea of beautiful fishes (thanks to friends who 'pursued' and 'pushed' me to start one and wouldn't take no for an answer).  My blog (today) still is.....a tiny fish fry....trying (desperately) to grow into a beautiful fish one day :)  My advice to those who intend to start any type of blog....just say you can...and don't let anyone or anything intimidate you and don't bother with how good your blog will be.....just do it if it makes you happy and be proud that you've put in your best effort.

 

When I first started this blog in Dec 2013, I was (just like any other blogger)...obsessed with blog statistics, fixated with the no. of clicks and views I was getting, worried if my blog would be any good, wonder if people would want to read my humble blog, and so on.  But now, I don't let the stats bother me as much because if you don't use any media social tools (like me) to help create/spread awareness of the existence of your blog, don't expect your stats to grow at an exponential pace.  My friends have been bugging me to start a Facebook Page and, at this 1st milestone, I finally did.  [#Update (1.11.2014): I did try out the Facebook thingy (for less than 2 months) and found it not worth the time and effort (to update it) for the puny likes that I was getting and it has since been unpublished.]

 

It has truly been an interesting journey getting here, from where I started 9 months ago to where it is now.  For someone who started this as a means of passing time, the journey has both been fulfilling.....and frustrating.  Fulfilling...when I'm happily eating and blogging and sharing the food from these places I visit.  Frustrating...when I've come to realise that food blogging has its limitations too...like having a big (and regular) eating party or a good (and encouraging) support group who shares the same passion.

 

Frustrations aside, writing eatwhateatwhere.blogspot.com has been an uplifting and wonderful experience that has ignited my passion for writing (even though a tad time consuming).  I'm humbled that people (even if it's a few) want to read my amateur little blog with its amateur photographs and writing.

 

A word of thanks to those who visited my blog (even if it was by accident), those who visit but do not leave comments, those who continue to visit regularly and those who included me into their blogroll.....thanks so much for your support!  Just wished that more of the silent readers would leave comments coz I do enjoy 'engaging' in 'conversations' with my readers.  At the end of the day, I may not know who stopped by (exactly) but I appreciate all those who did.

As much as I would like to say "See you at my 200th post", I can't because I'm not sure if I'll get there or have the inspiration and encouragement I need to get there....but I really do hope I can get there!  So, wish me luck ;)

Hong Seng (Chicken Rice) @ Sec 17 PJ

When we were having our breakfast in Wah Cheong Coffee Shop some weeks back, we noticed a long line of people queuing up at Hong Seng Coffee Shop @ Section 17 PJ (located at the other corner along the same road as Wah Cheong) and decided to try it one day just to see if the hype (and queue) was worth it.  After all, it was voted as one of the Top 10 Chicken Rice in the recent Star People's Food Awards (June 2014).

When you first approach the stall, you'll notice a 'Please Queue Up' and 'Self Service' sign prominently displayed at the side of the stall.  You can understand my hesitance at first as I don't really like the idea of self-service and this (mind you) was not just for takeaways.

With my apprehension in tow, I queued up (like everyone else) but (surprisingly) I was in queue for not more than 5 mins before my turn came up (I was there at around 10am, so I guess the peak hour was not upon us yet).

I ordered a serving of roast chicken (of course), siew yoke (roast pork) and char siew (barbecued pork).  This serving for 3 persons (including 3 plates of rice) costs RM36 which is a bit pricey if you order it like this but you do get more meat of course.  Otherwise, go for individual servings which are fairly priced from RM5.50 - RM6.

The roast chicken meat was tender and juicy and the difference here was that the skin was really crispy (which you won't normally find with other roast chicken offered by some chicken rice stalls).  The only fault was that the inside (or underside) of the chicken was rather salty for my taste.

The siew yoke was flavourful and the skin was again very crispy without being hard (though this was not the case with every piece of siew yoke).  Some of the pieces my son ate was not that crispy (unfortunately) though the ones I had were.  From the 1st pic above, siew yoke is probably their most sought after item (judged by the many slabs of delicious siew yoke hanging in the stall).

The char siew, on the other hand, was more lean than I would have liked (and so it was more chewy in texture).  It was not mediocre but also not near some of the better ones we've had.

They were kind enough to provide a separate bowl of char siew sauce which was a thick, sticky sauce with a sweetish taste.  I don't normally douse my char siew with more of the sauce as it's usually too sweet for my liking.

They also gave us a separate bowl of garlic/ginger/chilli sauce which is a 'must' when eating chicken/roasted meat rice.  However, I was not a fan of this chilli sauce as it was too fiery hot for me.  It had a more dominant ginger taste and not enough of the fresh lime taste.  Also, when a chilli sauce is too fiery hot, in my opinion, it overpowers and takes away the joy of enjoying the natural flavours of the meat coz the roof of your mouth is on fire :(

The chicken broth infused rice had nice separated grains with the right colour and flavour.

My Personal Opinion

This is indeed a decent place for chicken rice and roasted meats in PJ.  Was it worth the queue?  If it was for a mere 5 mins...I should think so!!

Although they made it to the Star's Top 10 Chicken Rice, ultimately it was the siew yoke that won my vote.  It may not be one of the best or as good as the...(wait for it)...legendary one from Pudu but it's good enough in my books.

Coming in a close second is the roast chicken...skin....that was crispy and aromatic.

That leaves the char siew a distant third as there are many better ones around.

After I've made our orders, my husband came over to help carry the plates of food but the stall helpers said they'll send it over to our table (and they brought us soup too when I went to get some)...see....."every cloud has a silver lining"!
 

(Kedai Kopi dan Makanan) Hong Seng
Jalan 17/29 Section 17
46400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor